The above is looking north from Frasnes. You see the farm and then Quatre Bras. I use the fields to control the visibility because it is difficult to reflect exactly the limitations in local visibility that existed.
The above is looking from the north where the Allied reinforcements will arrive. Yo can see Quatre Bras and the woods to it's immediate right. The game was fought twice, the usual of playing it one way and then turning it around. Both games were played with similar tactics so the following pics relate to the first game only.
The French assault the farm as soon as possible, ensuring that the bulk of the forces bypass the farm and don't get slowed down waiting for it to be cleared. Essentially, the Allied use the farm as a road block.
Having cleared the farm, the French are now advancing on Quatre Bras directly. Jerome's Light infantry heavy Division is deploying in front of the woods and driving through them. The Allies have responded with a hastily organise gun line supported by the Dutch Belgians, hoping for reinforcements to arrive in time.
The French deploy for the attack once the farm has been secured. The fields are doing their thing in limiting visibility. The French have to be careful not to attack in a piecemeal fashion, the consequence of which is more time for the Allies to bring up reinforcements.
The assault on the main wood to the west of Quatre Bras gets into full swing. It is defended by the Dutch Jaegers who put up a spirited defence before succumbing to overwhelming numbers.
The Allied line to the east of Quatre Bras comes under sustained attack and is also being flanked by the French attack in the centre.
The direct pressure on Quatre Bras builds inexorably. The Allies prepare a second defensive line with British troops, predicting the expected demise of the forward Dutch/Belgian troops.
The French have secured the large wood and so are able to advance on this side as well with a secure flank. French Heavy cavalry have also now arrived as another potent attacking force.
A pic showing the general French advance and the assault on Quatre Bras. All French formations are on Advance orders. Will the Allies hold?
The fighting intensifies. The French are even throwing cavalry into the fray which is forcing British troops into square for protection, not only from the cavalry but from Dutch/Belgian troops being driven back.
The climax of the battle. The Allies are forced to relinquish their hold on Quatre Bras. They are not broken, but neither can they launch an effective counter attack. The game was called shortly after this pic was taken and the game was "turned around". Below are the casualty tables for both games.
Game 1
|
|||||||
French Formations
|
Losses %
|
Allied Formations
|
Losses%
|
||||
Infantry
|
Cavalry
|
Artillery
|
Infantry
|
Cavalry
|
Artillery
|
||
II Corps : Reille
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
I Corps : Pr. Orange
|
|||
5th Div :
Bachelu
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
1st Div : Cooke
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
1st Brigade
|
19
|
-
|
-
|
1st Brigade
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
6th Div :
Jerome
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
3rd Div : Alten
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
1st Brigade
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
5th Brigade
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
1st Han Brigade
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
7th Div : Foy
|
-
|
-
|
28
|
2nd DB Div : Perponcher
|
|||
1st Brigade
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
1st Brigade
|
26
|
-
|
13
|
2nd Brigade
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
9
|
-
|
0
|
2nd Cav Div : Pire
|
-
|
-
|
21
|
Bruns. Div : Brunswick
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
1st Brigade
|
-
|
22
|
-
|
Avant Garde
|
11
|
0
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
-
|
24
|
-
|
Light Brigade
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
Line Brigade
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
||||
IIIC Corps : Kellerman
|
|||||||
11th Cav Div : L’Heritier
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
DB Light Cav : Merlen
|
-
|
44
|
-
|
1st Brigade
|
-
|
43
|
-
|
||||
2nd Brigade
|
-
|
20
|
-
|
||||
Reserve Corps
|
|||||||
12th Cav Div : D’Hurbal
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
5th Div : Picton
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
1st Brigade
|
-
|
0
|
-
|
8th Brigade
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
-
|
25
|
-
|
9th Brigade
|
27
|
-
|
-
|
5th Han Brigade
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Game 2
|
|||||||
French Formations
|
Losses %
|
Allied Formations
|
Losses%
|
||||
Infantry
|
Cavalry
|
Artillery
|
Infantry
|
Cavalry
|
Artillery
|
||
II Corps : Reille
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
I Corps : Pr. Orange
|
|||
5th Div :
Bachelu
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
1st Div : Cooke
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
1st Brigade
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
1st Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
17
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
6th Div :
Jerome
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
3rd Div : Alten
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
1st Brigade
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
5th Brigade
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
1st Han Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
7th Div : Foy
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
2nd DB Div : Perponcher
|
|||
1st Brigade
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
1st Brigade
|
35
|
-
|
19
|
2nd Brigade
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
24
|
-
|
22
|
2nd Cav Div : Pire
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
Bruns. Div : Brunswick
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
1st Brigade
|
-
|
24
|
-
|
Avant Garde
|
10
|
0
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
Light Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
Line Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
||||
IIIC Corps : Kellerman
|
|||||||
11th Cav Div : L’Heritier
|
-
|
-
|
0
|
DB Light Cav : Merlen
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
1st Brigade
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
||||
2nd Brigade
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
||||
Reserve Corps
|
|||||||
12th Cav Div : D’Hurbal
|
-
|
-
|
21
|
5th Div : Picton
|
-
|
-
|
23
|
1st Brigade
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
8th Brigade
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
2nd Brigade
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
9th Brigade
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
5th Han Brigade
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
||||
In both games the Dutch/Belgian infantry fought quite well and duly suffered high casualties amongst all arms. The game was enjoyed by all, the nuances of using 2 rank infantry taking some time to get used to.
Here we all are enjoying the crisp December weather! Our next jaunt will be in January at a local hotel where 20 of us will be fighting Peninsular battles for a week. I'll give a short report after the event and also after recovering from 20 players for a week.
